Department for Transport

Bus Services: Finance

Baroness Randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Local Authorities made applications for funding under the Bus Back Better schemes; how many of these applications have been accepted; and what steps they have taken, if any, to support previously unsuccessful applicant Authorities to ensure their schemes meet the specified criteria.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: As requested in the National Bus Strategy, all 79 English Local Transport Authorities outside London have submitted Bus Service Improvement Plans.Those plans are being assessed against criteria including bus priority measures and targeted fares reductions, as set out in the National Bus Strategy. We will announce details of BSIP indicative funding allocations in due course.

EGNOS

Lord Berkeley: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answers byBaroness Vere of Norbiton on 3 March (HL6222 and HL6223), what are the 18 airports affected by the cancellation ofEuropean Geostationary Navigation Overlay Services (EGNOS).

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The airports are:Barra,Barrow,Bristol,Campbelltown,Cardiff,Doncaster,Dundee,Exeter,Islay,Kirkwall,Lands-End,Newcastle,Prestwick,Southampton,Sumburgh,Tiree,Wick,Yeovil.

Department for Education

Schools: Attendance

Lord Watson of Invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatplans they have, if any, to provideadditional funding to those schools with the largest proportion of pupils receiving free school meals, to pay for interventions aimed at increasing levels of school attendance.

Baroness Barran: Enabling every child, irrespective of their background, to realise their potential at school has been at the centre of this government’s education policy since 2010. We are committed to supporting all disadvantaged pupils in England and have put in place several significant policy measures to help schools address the barriers to success that these pupils face.It is important that children attend school for their education, well-being, mental health and long-term development. The department has appointed a team of expert attendance advisers that are working closely with a number of local authorities and multi-academy trusts (MATs) who are keen to improve their attendance practice and reduce persistent absence. They will support MATs and local authorities to review their current approach and help them to develop action plans to improve. The government’s Supporting Families programme also continues to work with families where attendance issues are a significant concern.Since 2011, the pupil premium has provided schools with additional money to raise the attainment of disadvantaged pupils, including through approaches to boost access to education such as attendance interventions. £2.5 billion of pupil premium is being distributed in the current financial year.The government is also providing an additional £1.3 billion for a recovery premium this academic year and over the next two academic years (2022/23 and 2023/24), which will help schools deliver evidence-based approaches to support the most disadvantaged pupils. Recovery premium allocations are based on pupil premium eligibility to ensure that schools with the most disadvantaged pupils, including those that receive free school meals, receive the highest amounts.School leaders are encouraged to use their pupil premium, and recovery premium funding to support their disadvantaged pupils, based on diagnosis of their specific needs, including those relating to any attendance issues, and to invest in proven practice to improve outcomes. The Education Endowment Foundation recommends that schools spend this funding on activities that:Support the quality of teaching, such as staff professional development.Provide targeted academic support, such as tutoring.Tackle non-academic barriers to success in school, such as attendance, behaviour, and social and emotional support.

National Tutoring Programme

Lord Watson of Invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they had with Randstad prior to the company informing the National Tutoring Programme’s tutor organisations that they are no longer required to meet the Department for Education’s requirement that 65 per cent of their tuition support is provided to children receiving the pupil premium.

Baroness Barran: The National Tutoring Programme is on track to deliver the ambitious target of two million tutoring courses to children this academic year. The department is continuing to prioritise tutoring for those children most in need of catch-up, and the contractual target to deliver 65% of tutoring packages to children receiving the pupil premium remains in place. Randstad and the department are committed to ensuring that tuition goes to the most disadvantaged pupils. The department regularly consults with schools to identify ways to improve the programme and ensure it works for schools and pupils. Following feedback from schools and the department’s tutoring partners, tutoring organisations have been given some operational flexibility to ensure the programme reaches all eligible schools, and ultimately as many children as possible, while ensuring disadvantaged children continue to be prioritised.

Students: Loans

Lord Stevens of Birmingham: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the speech by the Minister for Higher and Further Education on 24 February regarding their response to Dr Philip Augar'sReview of Post-18 Education and Funding, published in May 2019, what proportion of their modelled overall reduction in future costs to taxpayers from student loans arises from (1) the new proposals themselves, (2) changes to the discount rate, or (3) other factors.

Baroness Barran: The fiscal impacts of the student loan reforms announced on Thursday 24 February 2022 are detailed in full in the equality impact analysis (EIA) published alongside the announcement, which is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/higher-education-reform-equality-impact-assessment.Updates to the Resource, Accounting, and Budgeting (RAB) charge, that result from the change to the discount rate, announced by the government on 13 December 2021, are provided in Annex B of the EIA linked to above. The proportion of loan outlay issued is not expected to be repaid in present terms. Forecasts of the savings that will result from the reforms, set out in Tables 11 and 12 of the EIA, use the updated RAB as a baseline, meaning the discount rate change does not account for any of these savings.The forecast savings are wholly attributable to the two-year tuition fee freeze and changes to student loan repayment terms, as set out on page 13 of the higher education policy statement & reform consultation, and do not incorporate other elements of the reform package. The consultation is attached.The savings do include the changes to the Plan 2 repayment threshold for 2022/23 financial year, announced on 28 January 2022, prior to the announcement of the whole reform package.HL6557_pdf (pdf, 697.7KB)

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

France: Foreign Relations

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government, prior to the G7 meeting on 24 February, when the Prime Minister last spoke bilaterally to President Emmanuel Macron of Franceabout (1) President Macron's meeting with President Vladimir Putin of Russia on 11 February, and (2) the crisis in Ukraine.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Prime Minister spoke to President Macron on 22 February to update on new UK sanctions against Russia, the leaders agreed they needed to continue to synchronise actions in order to target Russian individuals and entities bankrolling President Putin's aggressive approach. The pair reiterated that together, the UK and France were working to reinforce Europe's borders and defend European security against increasing Russian aggression.

Ukraine: Refugees

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with other European countries about welcoming refugees from Ukraine.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The Foreign Secretary has engaged in recent weeks with our Allies, including Poland, Slovakia and Turkey. Our Embassies in Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Moldova, Turkey and Bulgaria are in regular contact with their host governments. The Foreign Secretary and FCDO Ministers have engaged with a range of partners, including international and multilateral organisations about Russian aggression towards Ukraine.The UK stands ready to provide emergency humanitarian assistance as needed. We are providing financial and technical assistance to partners on the ground, to ensure the system is prepared to support those in Ukraine who may need it most. We are calling on other donors to step up and provide immediate support now, so that the system is prepared to support those who need it, including planning to meet the humanitarian needs of people displaced across borders.

Afghanistan: Diplomatic Service

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government what contact they have had with the Afghan diplomats to the UK who were appointed by the government of former President Ghani; and what assistance has (1) been requested by those diplomats, and (2) been provided to them.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: It is the longstanding policy and practice of successive British Governments to accord recognition to States, not Governments.The Afghan Embassy in London continues to be recognised as Afghanistan's diplomatic mission to the Court of St. James's, in line with Article 2 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961. The FCDO therefore continues to engage with staff at the Embassy.

Mikita Yemialyianau

Lord Patten: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the welfare ofMikita Yemialyianau, who is currently imprisoned in Belarus.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: We are aware of the case of Mikita Yemialyianau. There are over 1000 political prisoners in Belarus. We remain deeply troubled about the intolerable prison conditions in which detainees are held in Belarus. We urge the authorities to release political prisoners, immediately and unconditionally, and have raised this both bilaterally and multilaterally. The UK has imposed over 100 sanctions in response to the fraudulent elections, human rights violations, and repression of civil society and democratic opposition in Belarus. This repression takes place amidst Belarus' unacceptable support of Russia's illegal and unprovoked attack against Ukraine, which the UK strongly condemns and is taking action against.

Middle East: Ukraine

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February on critical food supplies from Ukraine to countries in the Middle East, in particular (1) Lebanon, and (2) Turkey; and what plans they have, together with international partners, (a) to mitigate the disruption of such food supplies, and (b) to prevent hardship in those countries.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The unfolding crisis in Ukraine will affect food and input supplies, and further threaten already high food prices. There is also a risk that it will exacerbate food insecurity in already vulnerable countries. Countries immediately affected are those most dependent on imports from Ukraine and Russia, such as Turkey, Lebanon and other countries in the Middle East, and in particular those that may not have sufficient options for substitution in the short term. The UK is monitoring developments closely and is encouraging the relevant multilateral institutions to prioritise rapid information, analysis, and response options. We have also encouraged the G7 to consider a policy and programming response that mitigates the risk of a global food price crisis and protects food security.

Belarus: Politics and Government

The Marquess of Lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the currentpolitical and security situation in Belarus, (2)the future of the constitutionalcommitment to Belarusian neutrality,particularly in view of the 22–27 February referendum in that country on an amended constitution.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The political and security situation in Belarus is worsening. The UK condemns the role the Belarus regime is playing in Russia's unprovoked and barbaric attack against Ukraine. On 1 March, the Foreign Secretary imposed a first package of sanctions on Belarusian individuals and organisations who are aiding and abetting the invasion.The removal of the neutrality clause from Belarus' constitution must not be used to allow further support for Russian aggression. The decision to change the constitution came following a flawed referendum which failed to meet international standards. We urge the Belarusian authorities to end the repression, enter into an inclusive dialogue with the democratic opposition and civil society, and offer the Belarusian people genuine choices.

Ministry of Defence

Armed Forces

Lord Jones of Cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to review their decision to cut the number of armed forces personnel, in light of the conflict in Ukraine.

Baroness Goldie: The 2021 Integrated Review recognised the unprecedented challenges posed by geopolitical shifts, including intensifying competition between states, a widening range of security threats, and rapid technological change. To that end, the Armed Forces will become more agile and designed for permanent and persistent global engagement. The Government is committed to strengthening the capabilities of the Armed Forces. This is underpinned by the decision to increase defence spending by over £24 billion over the next four years: the biggest investment in the UK’s Armed Forces since the end of the Cold War. We will continue to ensure we are threat-led and review our capabilities accordingly. This commitment reinforces the UK’s position as the leading European NATO Ally and underlines our enduring commitment to the defence and security of Europe.

Department for Work and Pensions

Workplace Pensions

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) pension products are available for automatic enrolment pensions; what assessment they have made of the impact of financial services regulations on the number of ESG pension products available forautomatic enrolment pensions; and what stepsthey are taking to increase the number of ESG pension products available for automatic enrolment purposes.

Baroness Stedman-Scott: The department has introduced ESG-related legislation, including regulations aligned with the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), requiring trustees to consider, assess and report on the financial risks of climate change within their portfolios. These measures go beyond merely reporting a climate policy and how it is implemented. They require trustees to put in place climate-related governance and risk management, to assess the impact of climate change on their investment strategy, to conduct scenario analysis, to set targets. This means that automatic enrolment schemes will be encouraged to consider climate-related risks and opportunities, and this is likely to influence their choice of products in their portfolio. The Government thinks that ESG factors and their impact should be taken into consideration where financially material, but the process of investing in individual products is down to the market and trustees working within their fiduciary duty. I recognise the risk of ‘greenwashing’, where investors can be misled on the quality of a product described as being an ESG product and this must be tackled. To aid trustees in their decisions, the department participates in an advisory group which supports the Financial Conduct Authority in developing their proposed requirements that certain investment products display a label reflecting their sustainability characteristics. Recent research carried out by Corporate Advisor in their ‘ESG in DC Pensions’ report found that 19 out of 21 pension providers surveyed deploy ESG tilts or screening overlays on their default funds excluding specific companies or sectors with poor ESG ratings[1]. The report found that three years ago, just five master trust defaults took this approach, suggesting that schemes are increasingly turning to ESG-related products. I believe the steps the department has taken to put in place the regulatory framework for consideration of ESG factors will have contributed to the uptake here.

Coronavirus: Employment

Lord Mendelsohn: To ask Her Majesty's Government what support employers will be asked to provide for employees who are clinically extremely vulnerable to COVID-19 to enable them to continue working safely following the removal of COVID-19 from risk assessments.

Baroness Stedman-Scott: The Department of Health and Social Care have the lead and alongside UK Health Security Agency released Guidance for people previously considered clinically extremely vulnerable from COVID-19, which is hosted on the Coronavirus (COVID‑19) webpages on gov.uk. This was most recently updated on 25 February 2022. In order to assist employers, the Health and Safety Executive provides a link to this guidance on its website.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Elections

Lord Rennard: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they haverequested, if any, from(1) returning officers, and (2) the Electoral Commission, regarding the number of people arriving at polling stations in elections in the last five years who have had to claim a tendered ballot paper; and what assessment they have they requested as to how many of those people had to ask for an extra ballot paper as someone else had already claimed their vote.

Lord Rennard: To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to removing the meansby which a voter at a polling station who finds that their name has already been crossed off the list of voters issued with ballot papers may then be given an extra ballot paper to ensure that their vote can be counted if appropriate.

Lord Greenhalgh: The Electoral Commission gathers and publishes data on all major elections. Their report on the 2019 General Election included figures on how many tendered ballot papers were issued. This information is available on the Electoral Commission’s website.

Department for International Trade

Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-pacific Partnership: European Patent Convention

Lord Hannan of Kingsclere: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatsteps they are taking to ensure that Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific (CPTPP) membership is compatible with the UK’s continued membership of the Convention on the Grant of European Patents; and whether they have requested exclusions from Article 18.38 CPTPP (patent grace period) or Article 18.46 CPTPP (patent term adjustment).

Lord Grimstone of Boscobel: The UK has a world leading intellectual property regime and will not sign trade deals that compromise it. The Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership sets clear and consistent rules for the intellectual property (IP) sector which will benefit UK businesses and consumers. Article 18.46 (patent term adjustment) is a suspended provision so the UK does not have to sign up to it. The UK takes its international obligations seriously and our accession negotiations will be consistent with our national interest and wider Government priorities, which include our continued alignment with the European Patent Convention and other international IP treaties.

Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-pacific Partnership

Lord Dodds of Duncairn: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had, if any, with the Department of the Economy in Northern Ireland about the negotiations surrounding the UK’s application to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.

Lord Grimstone of Boscobel: The Government engages extensively with the Department of the Economy in Northern Ireland on Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) negotiations and has done since the start of the process to join the agreement.  The CPTPP team’s extensive programme of engagement with the Department for Economy includes meetings every six weeks that provide updates on the progress of negotiations providing opportunities for officials to ask questions to technical policy leads.The Ministerial Forum for Trade gives updates on CPTPP at ministerial level with the most recent taking place on 26th January 2022.

Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-pacific Partnership

Lord Dodds of Duncairn: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to their plans to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, what assessment they have made of whether that Agreement would apply equally across the UK, given the requirements of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland.

Lord Grimstone of Boscobel: The Government is clear that the UK must function as a single customs territory. Therefore, we will ensure the application of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) to all four constituent nations of the UK, takes into account the effects of the Ireland/Northern Ireland (NI) Protocol. The Protocol mainly concerns trade in goods, and only for imports. NI businesses will therefore be able to benefit from the lower tariffs we will be able to deliver for exporters as a result of joining CPTPP.